The Brandenburg Gate was constructed in the late 18th century. The gate was designed in 1788 by Carl Gotthard Langhans, and the construction was finished in 1793. At this time Berlin was still a walled city. This gate was meant to be both functional and artistic. It was constructed during the emergence of Neo-Classicism, and its design reflects this heavily. It was modeled after the Propylaeum in Athens, this embrace of Greek style architecture was seen as an alternative to the more complicated and embellished designs that were popular elsewhere at the time.
This is the Brandenburg Gate today, notice the statue has the 1814 additions to it and the Gate itself is painted a tone that matched ancient Greek architecture. Over the years the original color of the gate was grayed due to pollution and had to be painted.
sculptor and designer of the Quadriga
Public Domain {{PD-1923}}
The Quadriga has a rather interesting history behind it as well. It was constructed in 1793 by Johann Schadow, it was meant to represent a goddess moving into the city. The Quadriga was modeled after Ulrike Jury who was the niece of one of the artisans who cast the structure. It was intended to be nude but the king requested that it be clothed. So the Goddess was given a shroud. At this time period there were numerous suggestions to change the appearance of the statue. There was a suggestion to gild the statue and another to add statues to tie it into the Hohenzollern dynasty. In 1795 there was an addition of a scepter, helmet, shield, armor and spear. This militant design was quickly undone due to protest.
